It was a rematch from last year’s first round playoff matchup for the Richmond Sockeyes. The Grandview Steelers visited Minoru Arena for the first playoff game of the year.
Sockeyes were without league-leading scorer Troy Kaczynski, who was injured in the final regular season game against the Port Moody Panthers.
The Sockeyes finished the regular season with a 4-1-1 record against the Steelers, though the Steelers took the last meeting in a 2-1 OT win. Richmond only lost three games at home all season, and won all their home games against Grandview.
The Steelers struck early, when a defensive lapse in front of Kurt Russell allowed Tim Chow to slide one into the Sockeyes goal.
The Sockeyes had the first penalty of the game, but were rewarded with three penalties in the final ten minutes of the 1st. The first two were unsuccessful, but Daniel Oakley’s wrist shot at the face-off dot beat Cole MacInnes to knot the game up at one before the period expired.
Matthew Bissett gave Richmond the lead just 30 seconds into the middle frame. He capitalized on a bounce off Lucas Mercer’s skate and snapped one post-and-in.
It was a physical affair throughout. Jake Wozney and Alex Rasovic were mixing it up in the 1st period, and each received 10-minute misconducts. Captains Jordan Andrews and Michael Wilmms exchanged pleasantries later and got separated by the refs before each sitting for two.
The Steelers had a great chance to tie the game late in the second but Sockeyes’ captain Jordan Andrews did well to stretch out and break up the play.
The Steelers would not be denied before period’s end. After Sockeyes failed to clear the zone, Pete Matthews took a wrist shot that beat Russell blocker side.
It became a one-period game heading into the third tied up at two.
On a delayed penalty, the Steelers took the lead early in the final frame. Chow slid one through the wickets of Russell for his second goal of the game.
Mac Colasimone was looking to tie it up but his blistering wrist shot rung off the crossbar and stayed out.
Sockeyes pushed to tie late, but Chow stole the puck in the neutral zone and flung it into the empty net for the hat-trick.
Sockeyes fall 4-2 to the Grandview Steelers, next game is Saturday, 5:45pm at Minoru Arena.
- Bailey Meadows
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